Jets 5, Lightning 2
Ondrej Pavelec stopped 30 shots and the Winnipeg Jets used a balanced scoring attack to cruise past Tampa Bay 5-2 Monday night, ending a 12-game losing skid against the Lightning.
Pavelec was sensational as he helped the Jets halt a five-game losing skid. The veteran netminder won for just the third time in 12 career meetings against Tampa Bay.
Winnipeg dominated the first period and was rewarded with a 2-0 cushion. Evander Kane opened the scoring at 4:51, and Dustin Byfuglien doubled the lead with a blast from the point that eluded Tampa Bay netminder Dwayne Roloson at 13:02.
Mark Flood made it 3-0 on a power play at 7:49 of the second period, firing a shot from just inside the blue line that dribbled through Roloson and into the net.
Martin St. Louis put the Lightning on the scoreboard three minutes later, but Andrew Ladd countered with a tip-in of a Johnny Oduya point shot to restore the three-goal cushion and chase Roloson from the goal.
Tim Stapleton converted a wraparound off the skate of a Lightning defender to make it 5-1 midway through the third period. Steven Stamkos answered 22 seconds later with his team-high 11th of the season for Tampa Bay, but the Lightning would get no closer.